Lei

Nat and Shuai kept going at it, their attacks colliding and unleashing shockwaves throughout the arena.

Shuai leapt back as Nat's flame angel lurched at him.

Tammy watched them with a gleeful expression, but I was also enjoying the spectacle. The new students this year were amazing, even better than my own batch. But that only made me more eager to see how they would improve. They had the potential to become worthy opponents for me. I wanted to challenge their skills and see what they could do.

Shuai jumped back at Nat punched the air, firing off a powerful flare.

Ling above clutched the bar tightly. Was she worried about her cousin or Nat?

The green-haired boy dodged, moving as swiftly as ever. Hitting him was going to be hard, but Nat looked undeterred. He was even smirking as he gathered more blue flames into his arms.

In a fluid motion, he released a surge of blue flames, shaping them into a majestic phoenix that charged towards Shuai. The heat was intense, even from my vantage point, and the brilliant light from the firebird cast stark shadows over the audience.

Shuai, with a look of fierce concentration, waited until the final moment to act. With a powerful cry, he conjured a barrier of shimmering air, the heat distortion visible as the phoenix collided with it. The impact set off a dazzling explosion of light and heat, prompting some spectators to shield their eyes.

When the light dimmed, Shuai was unscathed, though his clothes bore the marks of singeing. He acknowledged Nat with a nod of respect, then readied himself for his next move.

If this was how the semi-finals were, imagine how the final would go. I was getting all giddy just thinking about it. Burai was the same. Actually, he was even more openly ecstatic than me, jumping from his seat and punching the air as he cheered both boys on.

Adela must've noticed me as she giggled.

My cheeks reddened, so I turned back to the match.

Shuai, with a determined glint in his eye, began to weave his hands through the air. The atmosphere crackled with energy as he drew upon his own reserves of power. With a swift upward motion, he summoned a vortex of wind that spiraled towards Nat, carrying with it a barrage of razor-sharp leaves.

Nat, undaunted by the new challenge, responded with a roar. His blue flames erupted into a defensive wall, incinerating the leaves before they could reach him. Yet, he wasn't content to stay on the defensive. With a fierce battle cry, he pushed forward, his flames morphing into a series of fiery lions that pounced towards Shuai.

The crowd gasped as the two forces met in mid-air, the wind vortex clashing with the fiery lions, creating a maelstrom of fire and air that threatened to engulf the entire arena. Shuai and Nat, locked in their elemental tug-of-war, showed no signs of fatigue. Their determination was as palpable as the heat that radiated from the center of their battle.

As the spectacle unfolded, I couldn't help but feel a surge of pride for these first years. They were not just fighting to win; they were fighting to surpass themselves, to reach new heights. And as I watched, I knew that this was what it meant to be a part of our academy—to push beyond limits, to strive for greatness. This same feeling, it's what I'd aimed for when I first set out to Nine Petal a year ago.

The boys panted as sweat rolled down their brows. Nat clapped his hands, unleashing a wave of water.

Shuai smirked as plants flew out from his wrists, absorbing the water into them.

The arena held its breath as the plants swelled, thriving on the water Nat had conjured. Shuai's smirk turned into a full-blown smile as the plants twisted and turned, growing into a formidable thicket that sprang towards Nat. The green tendrils were alive with energy, pulsating with the same power that Shuai wielded.

Nat, however, was far from defeated. With a swift motion, he drew the heat from his blue flames, drying out the advancing plants before they could ensnare him. The leaves withered, and the branches crumbled, turning to ash that scattered in the wind.

The two combatants stood, momentarily still, assessing each other. It was a standoff between fire and nature, each waiting for the other to make the next move. The tension was palpable, a silent testament to the skill and power on display.

Then, with a sudden burst of speed, Shuai charged, his body surrounded by a whirlwind of leaves and petals. Nat countered, his flames now a brilliant white, the heat so intense it caused the air to shimmer. They met in the center of the arena with a clash that sent ripples through the ground.

The battle was reaching its finale, and I found myself on my feet, cheering alongside Burai. The raw talent and sheer determination of these first years were inspiring. They were not just dueling for the title; they were dueling for their future, for their place in the legacy of Nine Petal.

As the dust settled, both Nat and Shuai stood, breathing heavily but unbroken. Their shirts had been reduced to tatters, revealing their slender but muscular figures.

The audience was silent, the tension palpable as Nat and Shuai faced each other, their eyes locked in a mutual understanding that only true rivals could share. They were battered but not beaten, their spirits as unyielding as the elements they commanded.

With a nod that spoke volumes, they prepared for the final exchange. Shuai, his body still encircled by the whirlwind, formed a flock of birds from the swirling leaves, each one sharp as a blade. Nat, his flames now a calm blue, shaped them into a protective circle around him, ready to intercept the incoming assault.

The birds dove, one after another, their forms cutting through the air with deadly precision. But Nat's flames were quicker, each bird meeting its end in a burst of sparks and smoke. Yet, this was Shuai's plan all along. As Nat focused on the birds, Shuai closed the distance, his hands glowing with a verdant light.

Nat reacted just in time, his flames shifting to meet Shuai's strike. The collision of fire and nature erupted in a brilliant display, a kaleidoscope of colors that painted the sky. The shockwave from their impact knocked the breath from all of us watching, a physical manifestation of the awe we felt. Were these boys really first years?

The dust cleared, showing the silhouette of one person, barely standing, while the other laid on the floor.

"Who won?" Yuzu asked.

I smirked at the victor.

Ling smiled as the rest of the dust cleared. "Nat!"

Nat fell down, landing beside the unconscious Shuai. He'd managed to edge out a narrow victory.

Burai laughed, raising his arms into the air. "That was awesome!"

I nodded. "It sure was!"

"Yeah," Ning said, smiling.

Koichi nodded, as did the others.

Burai and I glanced at one another. As soon as the ring was fixed, it would be our turn to battle.

"The winner is Nate!" Ms. Key yelled.

As the announcement of Nat's victory reverberated through the arena, Ling couldn't contain her excitement any longer. With a graceful leap, she vaulted over the barrier and landed softly in the ring. She rushed to Nat's side, her eyes filled with concern and pride. Gently, she helped him to sit up, checking for any serious injuries.

Then, turning her attention to Shuai, she knelt beside her cousin, her hands glowing with a soft green light. The healing energy emanated from her palms, enveloping him in a soothing aura. Slowly, Shuai's eyes fluttered open, and he gave Ling a weak but grateful smile.

I smiled. Seemed Ling did care for him after all.

Ling gasped and dropped Nat as she realized he was shirtless. Her face became as red as a cherry.

Adela sighed. "Ling..."

Taking deep breath, Ling picked him back up by the remnants of his shirt but made sure not to stare at him.

I snorted. She was surprisingly shy.

"Hurry it up, Cuz!" Burai yelled at Koukyuu.

Koukyuu looked back over at him and snapped her fingers. "Hmph, as impatient as ever."

"Cuz?" Ning asked, tilting her head.

"Yeah! Koukyuu is the daughter of a cousin of mine. So, she's technically my cousin-once-removed," Burai said, grinning as he turned his attention back to us. 

I glanced at Adela. "We're second cousins ourselves."

Adela nodded. "Yeah."

"Looks like the arena is fixed!" Burai said, pointing at it. He jumped into the air, flying super high.

Was it me, or was his attention span like Carter's?

"I-Is that guy normal?" Ling asked as she returned.

"You can do the same thing," Shuai said, laughing.

"Yeah, but I don't detect any prana in his feet! It's all physical prowess!"

That was amazing.

"You better get down there before he explodes," Koichi said, chuckling.

Nat looked over his shoulder and laughed weakly. "Yeah. If he's anything like Cart, it'll be an ugly sight."

He didn't have to tell me that. I'd seen his upset side before.

I stretched my arms and grinned. It was time for me to face the music. Let's see how much damage I could get on that guy.

"Don't keep me waiting," Burai said, slipping his hands into the pockets of his pants. He leaned forward and pouted. "I hate waiting."

"Don't worry, the wait is over," I said, calmly climbing into the ring. My eyes darted toward Ms. Key.

Sonata cleared her throat. "Now, the battle between the prince of the school and the boy on everyone's mind is about to begin! Get ready-"

"Go!" Burai said in unison with her. He kicked his feet against the ground, flying at me.

I formed a barrier of wind and side stepped his attack, but Burai managed to stop himself from punching my barrier and instead ran over toward me. His reaction speed was something else!

It took swift maneuvering on par with Shuai's for me to avoid the guy's kick. With bare feet alone, he shattered the stone tiles of the ring.

Using my wind, I threw the flying stones back at him.

He dodged and blocked every single stone that came his way. Only his hair was affected by my attack, becoming more tousled than it already was.

Burai grinned. "You have to do better than that, Lei Lan! Or is this all the so-called 'future Magus Maximus' can do?"

I gritted my teeth as a swirl of wind danced all around me. He would regret saying that. One could mock me all they wanted, but not my dream!

"I'll show you what I can really do!" I roared as the sky overhead darkened.

**Solar Note: This chapter was written with the help of A.I. (most of the Nat vs. Shuai half) . I hope you enjoyed the chapter ^^. Predictions?**